An enhanced New Product Development (NDP) model and the application of Taguchi Methods in upstream NPD activities

Bhardwaj, Vandita (2000) An enhanced New Product Development (NDP) model and the application of Taguchi Methods in upstream NPD activities. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (5MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

New product development (NPD) has emerged as a key aspect in today's manufacturing industry which is constantly being driven by global competition, advancing technologies and the need for frequent introductions of newer, better quality and lower cost new products. Having an efficient and a well-structured NPD process is critical to the success of a manufacturing organization and has led to research on reengineering and continuously improving the NPD process. -- This thesis proposes a NPD process model, viz., the NPRP (New product realization process) model, aimed at developing high quality products at low cost and at an accelerated rate. The NPRP model is a comprehensive model (constituting five concurrent phases), which encompasses all NPD activities in a manufacturing organization, right from the conception of the new product idea to the commercialization of the product in the market. The model provides a detailed structural framework for the NPD process and elaborates the constituent activities, milestones, deliverables and tools involved. The model places major emphasis on the upstream activities of the NPD process, viz., Opportunity evaluation and Product and Process design; as they are crucial in affecting the quality, cost and development time of a new product. The NPRP model proposes Taguchi method (TM) as a quality-engineering tool for improving the quality and pace of product concept design activities, which form a crucial part of the front-end NPD activities. TM is proposed as a tool for realizing high quality / low cost product with shorter development cycles. -- The thesis further successfully demonstrates the potential of TM as a front-end NPRP tool through a case study in LOM process optimization. LOM or Laminated Object Manufacturing is a rapid prototyping process used for manufacturing concept prototypes of new products in the manufacturing industry. The thesis furnishes details of the case study and presents results illustrating improved LOM process quality and reduced process time; eventually contributing to high quality/ low cost and faster NPD. -- The NPRP model can serve as an initial framework/guideline for establishing and implementing a systematic NPD process in a manufacturing organization and the LOM process optimization case study using TM furnishes new avenues for further quality improvement and problem solving in LOM, both for industrial and educational purposes.

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